Ensign seeking return to the gaming industry

Former Mandalay Resort Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Ensign apparently wants back into the casino business.

Ensign, who helped engineer Mandalay’s $7.9 billion buyout by MGM Mirage in 2005, is teaming up with a Topeka, Kan., development company to bid on operating a casino in south central Kansas.

Equity Ventures was expected to submit a bid today for the Prairie Sky casino project in Sumner County, which is near Wichita. Equity Ventures previously successfully bid on a $500 million casino project with Harrah’s Entertainment. But the Las Vegas-based casino operator withdrew because of financial issues.

Ensign is the father of Nev. Sen. John Ensign, who is currently the No. 4-ranked Republican in terms of leadership. He was part of the group that built the Gold Strike casinos and helped expand the original Circus Circus Enterprises into the Mandalay Resort Group.

Ensign’s partner in the Gold Strike, Peter Simon, also is involved in the Kansas deal with Equity Ventures.